The Whale Branch Warriors will head out to face off against the Beaufort Academy Eagles at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Battery Creek hit Whale Branch with a eight-run fourth inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Warriors fell 16-12 to the Dolphins. The loss continues a trend for the Warriors in their meetings with the Dolphins: they've now lost four in a row.
Freddie Lawton
| 04/24/25 vs Battery Creek | 3 |
| 03/28/25 vs Lake Marion | 2 |
| 03/25/25 @ Lake Marion | 2 |
| 04/22/25 vs Beaufort Academy | 1 |
| 04/08/25 vs Barnwell | 1 |
Whale Branch saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Freddie Lawton, who went 1-for-5 with three runs, one triple, and one RBI. The Warriors are 2-1 when Lawton posts two or more runs, but 1-12 otherwise. Another was Kenyon Jenkings, who went 2-for-5 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Beaufort Academy). They blew past Whale Branch 20-9 on Tuesday. Considering the Eagles have won three contests by more than ten runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Denver Jones made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out nine batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in six consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI. That triple was his first of the season.
In other batting news, Beaufort Academy let Keeler Dineen and Hayes Tanner run wild. Dineen got on base in four of his six plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI, while Tanner got on base in four of his five plate appearances with three stolen bases and three runs. Those stolen bases marked the first that Tanner has snagged this season. Jace Paulk was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Beaufort Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .608. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Beaufort Academy's record now sits at 3-7. As for Whale Branch, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-13.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Whale Branch has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Beaufort Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.3 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Whale Branch suffered a grim 20-9 defeat to Beaufort Academy in their previous meeting on Tuesday. Can the Warriors avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
